We do begin with president obama arriving in northern ireland for a summit with world leaders amid new revelations that the united states and great britain spied on our allies at previous summit meetings. Even intercepting communications of the russian president. It's the latest revelation from edward snowden and abc's chief white house correspondent jon karl has the latest from ireland. Good morning, jon. Reporter: Good morning, george. Yeah, that's right. This latest classified leak from snowden in the "guardian" claims the u.S. And british spying included tapping into the phone calls and e-mails of former russian president democrat -- dmitri medeyev. It comes as he sits down with vladimir putin. But as damaging as this may be, embarrassing absolutely it's not all that surprising. I can tell you and I'm sure you know this, george, u.S. Delegations at summits like this assume they are going to be spied on, as well and certainly spied on by the russians. Always believe it's happening but talk about that meeting with vladimir putin today. Awkward timing given this revelation. It was already going to be difficult because the united states and russia in real showdown over syria in that decision by president obama to arm the syrian rebels. Reporter: That's right. It's almost looking like a proxy war between russia and the united states in syria much the russians are the primary arm suppliers to the syrian government. They do not believe that president assad needs to go. President obama has been calling for assa to go for over a year and just yesterday, president putin said he would continue providing arms to the syrian government and he criticized the united states for planning to send weapons to the rebels calling the rebels terrorists who kill and torture their victims. And the president been hoping to convince the russians to go along with a peace conference on syria in the next couple of weeks but that's looking unlikely. Reporter: There is absolutely no -- there's a lot of daylight. No common ground between the russians andted states right now on syria. This will be a tense meeting and nobody is expecting any kind of a breakthrough. Okay, jon karl, thanks very

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

Now Playing: Ben Affleck, John Kerry Take Part in Some Awkward Guy Talk

Now Playing: Attorney General Takes Stand Against Gay Marriage Ban

Now Playing: Couple Hopes Billboard Will Bring Taliban-Held POW Home

Now Playing: Joe Biden on 2016: 'Haven't Made Up My Mind'

Now Playing: Defense Secretary Announces Steep Cuts to US Military

Now Playing: {{itm.title}}

{"id":19418004,"title":"NSA Leaker Alleges US Spied on Allies","duration":"2:10","description":"Latest revelations from Edward Snowden come just as Obama arrives for a summit with world leaders.","url":"/GMA/video/nsa-leaker-edward-snowden-alleges-us-spied-allies-19418004","section":"GMA","mediaType":"default"}